Dispenser for paper cups



Jan. 28, 1947. w. E. AMBER G DISPENSER FOR PAPER CUPS Filed Aug. 23, 19 44 Patented Jan. 28, 1947 2,414,847 DISPENSER FOR PAPER CUPS Walter E. Amberg, Beverl to Universal Paper Pro poration of Illinois y Shores, Ind., assignor ducts Company, a cor- Applieation August 23, 1944, Serial N 0. 550,710

2 Claims.

pensed in bent or curved form.

Still another object The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing container embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 illustrating a cup partially withdrawn from the container;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the container; plan view of a cup;

Figure 8 is a Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a partial vertical section at right angles to Figures 6 and 7.

The container of the present ticularly adapted cardboard and can serve both as a shipping container and as a dispenser for the cups. The container as seen in Figure of generally truncated wedge shape having a narrow truncated side at I3 adjacent angular sides at M and a baseside at I 5. Preferably the base I5 is connected to the angular sides M by short parallel sides Hi. In using the container as a dispenser it may be fastened to a wall or the like "by fastening pro- J'ections [1 on the side I 5.

The upper end of the container is closed by a top sheet I8 which may be formed by folding over the sides overlying which is a raised portion l 9 formed by folded parts of the sheet to improve the appearance of the container. The lower end of the container is closed by an angular bottom sheet 2| the sides of which are curved as indicated at 22 and taper inwardly toward the bottom of the sheet. The forward edge of the sheet 2| terminates short of the truncated side I3 as indicated at 23 to form a dispensing slot extending transversely across the truncated side of the container. The forward edge of the sheet 2| may also be formed with an open notch or groove 24 to facilitate removal of the cups as will appear hereinafter.

The truncated side of the container is of substantially the same width as the narrow edge H of the cups to be dispensed and is narrower than the maximum width of the cups at the point l2. In order to accommodate the edge portions of the cups when they are being dispensed, slot extensions 25 are formed in angular sides I4 of the container extending at acute angles from the opposite ends of the dispensing slot.

In use cups are stacked in the container which is of such size and shape as to hold the cups loosely so that they may drop toward the container bottom 2|. The lowermost cups in the stack will have their sides bent by engagement with the inwardly tapered sides 22 of the container bottom as shown in Figures 6 and 7. To withdraw a cup from the container the forward edge of the lowermost cup may be grasped thru the notch 24 and pulled forwardly as shown in Figures 2 and 9. The side edge portions of the cup at its point of maximum width will pass throughout slot extensions 25 with the cup curved so that it may easily be withdrawn from the container. At the same time the necessity of curving or bending the cups prevents accidental withdrawal of more than one cup.

With the construction as illustrated and described, the container can easily be made of cardboard or like material to serve as a shipping container and as a dispenser for the cups. With this construction the cups will be held within the container and protected during shipment and handling and can easily be dispensed therefrom,

one cup at a. time, when desired. It will be understood that for shipment and handling the dispensing slot and the slot extensions may be covered by sealing tape which can be easily removed when the dispenser is to be put in service.

While one embodiment, of the invention is shown and described in detail, herein, it will be understood that this is illustrative only and is not intended as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the app nded claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispenser for flat paper cups and the like which are substantially truncated wedge shaped in outline comprising a container substantially in the shape of a truncated wedge in cross section and having side walls, a forwardly and downwardly sloping bottom wall, and a front truncated wall adapted to hold a stack of flat cups, the front truncated side of the container being formed adjacent the bottom wall with a slot extending transversely thereacross in the plane of the forwardly and downwardly sloping bottom wall, and the side walls of the container being formed with end extensions of said slot and extending upwardly at an angle with respect to said plane of the bottom wall whereby a cup withdrawn through the slot and extensions will be bent.

2. A dispenser for flat paper cups and the like which are substantially truncated wedge shaped in outline comprising a container substantially in the shape of a truncated wedge in cross section and having straight side walls, a bottom wall, and a straight front truncated wall adapted to hold a stack of flat cups, the side walls of the container adjacent the bottom tapering inwardly to the bottom wall to bend the sides of an adjacent cup, the front truncated side of the container being formed adjacent the bottom wall with a slot extending transversely thereacross in the plane of the bottom wall, and the side walls of the container being formed with curved end extensions of said slot and extending upwardly at an angle with respect to said plane and intersecting the juncture between the straight and tapered portions of the side walls whereby a cup withdrawn through the slot and extensions will be bent.

WALTER E. AMBERG. 

